OXFORD — Opposing quarterbacks beware. If Saturday’s game against Oklahoma is any indication, Ole Miss’ pass rushers have found their rhythm again.
The Rebels’ pass rush was relentless Saturday, logging 10 sacks — including seven in the second half alone. The 10 sacks were the most Oklahoma has ever allowed as a program and was tied for the second-most Ole Miss has ever logged in a single game. Saturday’s historic game comes on the heels of a matchup at LSU where Ole Miss was unable to log a single sack.
Among the biggest lifts for the pass rush was the return of senior defensive end Princely Umanmielen, who missed the Rebels’ matchup at South Carolina and played one snap at LSU due to injury. Umanmielen finished with two sacks against the Sooners and spent much of his day in the face of Oklahoma quarterback Jackson Arnold.
Ole Miss finished Saturday with 16 tackles for loss. Three Ole Miss players logged at least two sacks — Umanmielen, senior defensive tackle JJ Pegues and sophomore defensive end Suntarine Perkins — and five players recorded at least one sack.
“It feels amazing. We work at it, day in and day out, a whole bunch of walkthroughs, a lot of meeting times,” Umanmielen said. “So whenever we get into the game and it just pay off, it feels just great. And I feel like we’re showing how great our d-line is.”
Ole Miss trailed the Sooners 14-10 at halftime but held Oklahoma scoreless in the second half and to just 94 yards of offense. The pass rush was a major part of the equation, as Arnold was facing constant pressure on his drop backs. After throwing for 110 yards and two scores in the first half, Arnold threw for 72 yards without a touchdown in the second. He was sacked four times on the Sooners’ last two drives of the game.
“Whenever we went in at halftime and the game wasn’t going how we wanted it to go, we knew, as a defense, we probably would have to step up to the plate,” Umanmielen said. “And whenever a time like that comes, we just play accordingly and finish on the ball.”
The leading sack-artist Saturday was Perkins, whose four sacks were the most by an Ole Miss player since 1993. Perkins now has a team-leading 8.5 sacks, and the Rebels are now second in the FBS with 34 team sacks. They had 35 as a team in 13 games last season.
“When I first got here in the spring, especially during practice, Coach Joyner would coach him up,” Umanmielen said. “He has all the athletic ability in the world, so makes plays just off his athletic ability. But … since spring, I’ve seen him develop as a pass rusher, work on more moves. Tried to give him a little advice here and there. But Coach Joyner and Coach Lou (Spanos) really helped him out with expanding his pass rush repertoire.”
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